Article carrier

ABSTRACT

A tubular carrier for a number of articles. The carrier may include a pair of side walls with upper and lower ends and a handle formed by the upper ends of the side walls. A first one of the side walls may include an access opening and a second one of the side walls may include a retention aperture for engaging one of the articles.

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Applications No. 60/633,313, filed Dec. 3, 2004.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a carrier for articles and more particularly relates to a bottle carrier with a reinforced handle, a center aperture sized for loading, and a cantilevered handle system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Carriers for articles such as bottles, cans, and the like that are intended to be loaded and unloaded by a retail outlet or a consumer generally are erected or completely folded before they are provided to the user. Erecting or the folding of the article carriers, however, generally takes time and effort.

There is a desire, therefore, for an article carrier that does not need to be fully erected or folded prior to use. Preferably, the article carrier should be easy to erect or fold from a partially completed form. The article carrier also should be easy to load and unload by the user as well as being easy to carry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tubular carrier for articles thus may be described herein. The carrier may include a pair of side walls with upper and lower ends and a handle formed by the upper ends of the side walls. A first one of the side walls may include an access opening and a second one of the side walls may include a retention aperture for engaging one of the articles.

The carrier also may include an open first end and an open second end such that the articles may be positioned therein. The access opening may define a cutout portion and the cutout portion may be positioned within the handle. The carrier also may include a base. The base may include a center fold line such that the base and the walls may be folded and aligned with each other. The retention aperture may include a retaining tab positioned therein. The retaining tab may be pivotable about the handle. The retention aperture also may include an angled bottom cut line. One or more article retainers may be used.

A further embodiment described herein may provide for a carrier for a plurality of articles. The carrier may include a base panel, a first wall, and a second wall. The first wall and the second wall each may have a first end and a second end with the first ends adjoining the base panel. The second end of the first wall and the second end of the second wall may be fixedly attached and form a first open end and a second open end. The first open side and the second open side may be sized such that the articles may be positioned in the carrier therethrough. The first wall also may include an aperture therein. The aperture may be sized such that the articles may be positioned in the carrier through the aperture.

The second end of the first wall and the second end of the second wall may form a handle. The handle may include a handle cutout portion. The aperture also may include a cutout portion. The cutout portion may be positioned between the second end of the first wall and the second end of the second wall within the handle. The first wall may include a tab positioned about the second end. The tab may be positioned between the second end of the first wall and the second end of the second wall within the handle.

The first wall and the second wall both may include one or more article-engaging apertures positioned therein. The article-engaging apertures may be sized to accommodate a portion of one of the articles.

The base panel may include one or more of article retainers positioned therein. The article retainers may be sized to accommodate a portion of one of the articles. The base panel may include a center fold line such that the base panel, the first wall, and the second wall may be folded and aligned with each other. The base panel also may include one or more additional fold lines.

The first wall and the second wall both may include a fold line positioned about the handle. The first wall and the second wall also may include one or more tabs extending from the handle. The tabs may be pivotable about the fold line. The first wall and the second wall each may include one or more article-engaging apertures positioned about the tabs. The article-engaging apertures may include an angled bottom cut line.

The articles may, for example, beverage bottles. The number of bottles may be any practical number that may be easily carried by a person, such as four (4) bottles. However, only one bottle may also be used with the invention.

A further embodiment described herein also may provide a carrier for one or more articles. The carrier may include a first wall with a first end and a second wall with a first end. The first end of the first wall and the first end of the second wall each may include a fold line thereon. The first end of the first wall and the first end of the second wall may be fixedly attached about the fold lines and form a handle and a tubular structure depending from the handle. The handle may be pivotable about the fold lines between an upright position and a tilted position. The handle also may include one or more engaging tabs extending away from the handle beyond the fold lines. When the handle is pivoted to the tilted position, the tabs are pivoted upward so at to allow an article to pass into or out of the tubular structure. When the handle is pivoted to the upright position, the tabs may engage the article.

A method as described herein may provide for inserting one or more articles into a carrier. The carrier may comprise a tubular structure for receiving one or more articles, a handle extending outward from the tubular structure and pivotable between an upright position and a tilted position, the handle having one or more engaging tabs extending into said tubular structure when the handle is in the upright position. The method comprises the steps of pivoting the handle to the tilted position such that the one or more tabs are pivoted toward the outside of the tubular structure in response to the pivotal movement of the handle, inserting one or more articles into the tubular structure, and pivoting the handle to the upright position such that the one or more engaging tabs are brought into engagement with the one or more articles.

These and other features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank showing an embodiment of a carrier as described herein.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank showing an alternative embodiment of a carrier.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a loaded carrier formed from the blank of FIG. 2, showing an end bottle half dislodged from the carrier and caught on an angled bottom edge of an article-engaging aperture.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carrier formed from the blank of FIG. 1, showing its flat collapsed form.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of loading a bottle through the aperture of the carrier formed from the blank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fully loaded carrier formed from the blank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a fully loaded carrier formed from the blank of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an article carrier 100 of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 1 shows a blank 110 from which the article carrier 100 may be assembled.

The blank 110 may have any desired length and width. The dimensions of the blank 110 will depend largely on the size and shape of the articles, such as bottles or cans, carried or intended to be carried therein as well as the number of articles. The blank 110 may have graphics printed thereon.

The blank 110 may be made out of cardboard, paperboard, corrugated board, plastic, or similar types of foldable sheet materials. Specifically, the materials may be coated unbleached paperboard. The blank 110 may be cut from a continuous sheet of the materials. The blank 110 may be cut in a die cutting process, a laser cutting process, or any other type of cutting method.

The blank 110 may have a number of fold lines and tear lines formed therein. The term fold line refers to a weakened line that facilitates folding of the material along the length of the weakened line. The fold line may include, but is not limited to, a score line, a perforation, a line of short slits, a line of half cuts, a combination of slits and score lines, and similar arrangements. Any reference to a fold line or any hinged connection should not be construed as being limited to a single fold line only. Any such fold line or hinged connection may be formed from one or more fold lines. The term tear line may refer to a line of severance or any other weakened line that facilitates separation along the length of the weakened line. The term tear line may include, but is not limited to, a perforation, a line of short slits, a line of half cuts, a combination of slits and score lines, and similar arrangements.

Specifically, the blank 110 may define a number of sections, a rear section 150, a front section 160, and a base section 170. The number of sections may be varied. It will be recognized that ordering references, such as first and second, and directional references, such as front, rear, top, base, bottom, side, upper, lower, etc., do not limit the structure described herein to any such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish relative structure from one another.

The rear section 150 may be connected to the base section 170 by a first base section fold line 180. The rear section 150 may be divided into three (3) panels: a flat panel 190, a midsection panel 200, and a handle panel 210. Other panels also may be used. Each of the panels may be largely rectangular in shape. Any shape or dimension may be used and, as above, may depend largely on the size and shape of the articles used or intended to be used therein as well as the number of articles.

A flat panel fold line 220 may connect the flat panel 190 and the midsection panel 200. A handle panel fold line 230 may connect the midsection panel 200 and the handle panel 210.

The midsection panel 200 may have a number of article-engaging apertures formed therein. In this example, a first article-engaging aperture 250 and a second article-engaging aperture 260. Any number of article-engaging apertures 250, 260 may be used. The shape and size of the article-engaging apertures 250, 260 may depend upon the nature of the article to be used therein, i.e., the article-engaging apertures 250, 260 may be sized to accommodate the top of a bottle or other article. Any size or shape, however, may be used.

The midsection panel 200 also may have an access opening 280 positioned therein. The access opening 280 may descend from about the handle panel fold line 230. The access opening 280 may extend until slightly below the flat panel fold line 220. The lower edge of the aperture 280 is arched or rounded to assume a largely “U” shape. The dimensions and shape of the access opening 280 will depend largely on the size and shape of the articles loaded or intended to be loaded therethrough. Preferably, the access opening 280 may have a width of greater than the maximum diameter of one (1) article (e.g. a bottle) intended to be used therein but may be less than two (2) such diameters.

The access opening 280 may be defined at least in part by a handle reinforcement piece 285 via an access opening tear line 290. The handle reinforcement piece 285 may be folded 180 degrees about the handle panel fold line 230 to be in a face-contacting relationship with the inside surface of the handle panel 210. The handle reinforcement piece 285 also may have a handle cutout 300 positioned therein. The handle cutout 300 may have an extended oval shape. Any other shape may be used.

The handle panel 210 may have a pair of beveled comers 310. Any desired shape, however, may be used. The handle panel 210 also may have a handle cutout 320 formed therein. The handle cutout 320 may be in a largely extended oval shape and may be similar to the handle cutout 300 of the midsection panel 200. The handle cutout 320 may be defined at least in part by a hand flap 340. The hand flap 340 may be foldably connected to the upper edge of the handle cutout 320 to reinforce the handle panel 210 and to serve as a hand cushion.

Once the blank 110 is cut, a series of glue lines 350 may be applied to the handle panel 210. The glue 350 may be any type of conventional adhesive. Other joinder methods may be used.

The base section 170 may be connected to the front section 160 via a second base section fold line 380. As before, the front section 160 may be divided into three panels: a flat panel 390, a midsection panel 400, and a handle panel 410. Other sections also may be used.

A flat panel fold line 420 may connect the flat panel 390 and the midsection panel 400. A handle panel fold line 430 may connect the midsection panel 400 and the handle panel 410. The flat panel 390, the midsection panel 400, and the handle panel 410 may have about the same size and shape as described above with respect to the panels of the rear section 150.

The midsection panel 400 may have a number of article-engaging apertures formed therein. In this example, a first article-engaging aperture 450, a second article-engaging aperture 455, a third article-engaging aperture 460, and a fourth article-engaging aperture 465. Any number of article-engaging apertures 450, 455, 460, 465, however, may be used. The article-engaging apertures 450, 455, 460, 465 may be similar to the article-engaging apertures 250, 260 described above. As before, the shape and size of the article-engaging apertures 450, 455, 460, 465 may depend upon the nature of the articles to be used therein.

The handle panel 410 may have a pair of beveled comers 470. Any desired shape, however, may be used. The handle panel 410 also may have handle cutout 480. The handle cutout 480 may be in a largely extended oval shape. The handle cutout 480 may be defined at least in part by a hand flap 485. The hand flap 485 may be foldably connected to the upper edge of the handle cutout 480 to reinforce the handle panel 410 as well as to serve as a hand cushion.

The base section 170 may have a number of additional fold lines, a center base section fold line 500, a third base section fold line 510, and a fourth base section fold line 520. The center base section fold line 500 may be positioned in the middle of the length of the blank 110 such that the blank 110 can fold evenly upon itself. The base section fold lines 180, 380, 500, 510, 520 may define a number of base section panels. In this case a first base section panel 521, a second base section panel 522, a third base section panel 523, and a fourth base section panel 524. Any number of panels and/or fold lines may be used.

The base section fold lines 180, 380, 500, 510, 520 may assist in loading the articles into the article carrier 100. The base section fold lines 180, 380, 500, 510, 520 may be evenly spaced along the base section 170.

The base section 170 also may have a number of article retainers positioned therein. Specifically, a number of pairs of article retainers with a front retainer 530 and a rear retainer 535. The front article retainers 530 generally extend between the first base section fold line 180 and the third base section fold line 410 while the rear article retainers 535 generally extend between the second base section fold line 380 and the fourth base section fold line 520. The article retainers 530, 535 are largely “bolt” shaped with curved wings. One end of each article retainer 530, 535 may extend into the flat panels 190, 390 while each wing extends across the respective third or fourth base section fold lines 510, 520. Additional arched fold lines or tear lines 536 may surround each article retainer 530, 535. The article retainers 530, 535, however, can take any convenient shape or size. The article retainers 530, 535 may be similar to those described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,562, incorporated herein by reference.

In use, the blank 110 is folded along the center base section fold line 500. The handle reinforcement piece 285 may be folded along the handle panel fold line 230 until the handle cutouts 300, 320 are aligned with each other. The handle panel 410 is brought into a face-contacting relationship with the inside surface of the handle panel 210 such that the reinforcement piece 285 is sandwiched between the handle panels 210 and 410 and the handle cutout 480 is aligned with the handle cutouts 300 and 320 to form a single handle aperture 540. The glue lines 350 thus may secure the handle panels 210 and 410 with the handle reinforcement piece 285 therebetween to form a reinforced handle 545. As is shown in FIG. 4, the article carrier 100 may be transported and delivered in this largely flat shape to, for example, a retail outlet.

A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 2, an article carrier 600. In this embodiment, the handle reinforcement piece 285 either may be used as above or, as shown, may be completely removed. Further, the handle panel 210 of the rear section 150 may have a tab 610 extending outward therefrom. The tab 610 may have a handle cutout 620 formed therein. The tab 610 may be 180 degrees about a fold line 605 to be placed between the handle panels 210 and 410 to form part of the reinforced handle 545 (FIG. 3).

The article container 600 also may have a cantilevered handle system 630. The cantilevered handle system 630 may include a number of small tabs 640 that extend into the article-engaging apertures 650 and the access opening 280 from the handle panels 210 and 410. Because the tabs 640 are positioned along the handle panel fold lines 230, 430, the tabs 640 may pivot about the registered fold lines 230 and 430 in response to pivotal movement of the composite handle 545 about the registered fold lines 230 and 430. Tabs 640 of any shape or dimension may be used.

Several of the article-engaging apertures 650 also may have an angled bottom edge 650. The angled bottom edges 650 may descend about ten (10) to about twenty (20) degrees or so from the horizontal. As is shown in FIG. 3, the angled bottom edges 650 may serve to catch an article that may begin to rotate out of the article carrier 100 through its opened end.

Either article carrier 100 or 600 may be used with a number of articles 700. In this case, the articles 700 may be generally cylindrical in shape and preferably are bottles 700. In particular, the bottles 700 may be twenty (20) ounce (about 0.6 liters) bottles with a petal-shaped end. Any other type of article 700, however, may be used herein.

The article carrier 100, 600 may be opened from its flat position shown in FIG. 4 by pushing inward on the center base panel fold line 500. This action forms the base section 170 and puts the article carrier 100, 600 as a whole into a form with a largely triangular cross section with a first open end 720 and a second open end 730.

As is shown in FIGS. 5-7, the articles 700 then may be loaded into the carrier 100, 600 through either of the open ends 720, 730 or the access opening 280. As is shown in this example, four (4) bottles 700 may be used. A first bottle 700 may be slid into the first open end 720 and a second bottle 700 may be slid into the second open end 730. A third bottle 700 and a fourth bottle 700 may be placed through the access opening 280. The bottles 700, however, may be placed within the article carrier 100, 600 in any order.

Once the bottles 700 are in place, the article-engaging apertures serve to secure the top of each bottle 700 and the article retainers 530, 535 serve to secure the bottom of each bottle 700. If the cantilevered handle system 630 is used, the composite handle 545 can pivot about the registered handle section fold lines 230, 430 such that the tabs 640 may pivot in response. By pivoting the handle 545 downward into a generally horizontal position, the tabs 640 are moved upward, and thereby the bottles 700 may easily be loaded through the open ends 720, 730 as well as through the access opening 280. By pivoting the handle 545 upward back into an upright position, the tabs 640 are moved or pivoted downward back into the tubular carrier and downwardly press the bottle top. By this means, the bottles 700 are locked in the article retainers 530, 535. The tabs 640 also extend the height of the article carrier 100, 600 as a whole somewhat so as to push the bottles 700 into the article retainers 530, 535. This action generally serves to lock the bottles 700 in place.

Once the bottles 700 are in place, the article carrier 100, 600 may be carried by the composite handle 545 and the handle aperture 540. The composite handle 545 may be sufficiently long in height such that several article carriers 100, 600 may be carried together and/or the article carrier 100, 600 may be carried with another item or items such as a pizza box. The bottles 700 or other articles 700 generally will remain in place regardless of the orientation of the article carrier 100, 600. The angled bottom edges 650 of the article-engaging apertures also serve to catch any bottles 700 that may begin to slip out of the article carrier 100, 600.

Likewise, the bottles 700 or other articles 700 may be removed from the open ends 720, 730 and through the access opening 280. If the cantilevered handle system 630 is used, the composite handle 545 can be pivoted downward such that the bottles 700 may be easily inserted into the carrier through the open ends 720, 730 and the access opening 280. The article carrier 100, 600 may be reused if desired.

It should be understood that the foregoing relates only to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention and that numerous changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof. 

1. A tubular carrier for articles, comprising: a pair of side walls with upper and lower portions; said upper portions are secured together to form a handle extending from a tubular structure formed by said lower portions to accommodate articles; one of side walls comprising an access opening of a size such that an article may be loaded into and unloaded from the carrier through said access opening; and the other side wall comprising a plurality of article-engaging apertures each for engaging an article, said access opening being disposed at a location opposing at least one of said engaging apertures such that an article loaded into the carrier through said access opening may be engaged by said at least one engaging aperture.
 2. The tubular carrier of claim 1, further comprising an open first end and an open second end such that articles may be loaded into and unloaded from the carrier through the first and second open ends.
 3. The tubular carrier of claim 1, wherein said access opening is defined at least in part by a handle reinforcing piece that is formed from said one side wall, and wherein said handle reinforcing piece is positioned between said upper portions of said side walls.
 4. The tubular carrier of claim 1, further comprising a base interconnecting lower portions of the side walls, wherein said base comprises a center fold line such that the carrier may be folded along said center fold line into a collapsed form wherein said side walls are disposed in alignment with each other in face-contacting relationship.
 5. The tubular carrier of claim 1, wherein said handle is pivotable with respect to said tubular structure between an upright position wherein said handle extends upwardly from said tubular structure and a folded position wherein said handle extends laterally from the tubular structure, said handle comprises at least one retaining tab for engaging a top of an article, said at least one retaining tab extending from said handle into said tubular structure when said handle is in said upright position.
 6. The tubular carrier of claim 5, wherein said at least one retaining tab is joined to said handle such that said at least one retaining tab pivots with respect to said tubular structure in response to pivotal movement of said handle.
 7. The tubular carrier of claim 1, wherein at least one of said article-engaging apertures has an angled bottom edge.
 8. The tubular carrier of claim 4, wherein said base further comprises article-retention means for retaining bottoms of articles.
 9. A carrier for a plurality of articles, comprising: a base panel; a first wall with a first and a second end, said first end of said first wall adjoining said base panel; a second wall with a first and a second end, said first end of said second wall adjoining said base panel; said second end of said first wall and said second end of said second wall being fixedly attached and forming a first open side and a second open side; said first open side and said second open side sized such that articles may be positioned in the carrier through said first open side or said second open side; and said first wall comprising an aperture therein; said aperture sized such that articles may be positioned in the carrier through said aperture.
 10. The carrier of claim 9, wherein said second end of said first wall and said second end of said second wall form a handle.
 11. The carrier of claim 10, wherein said handle comprises a handle cutout portion.
 12. The carrier of claim 10, wherein said aperture comprises a cutout portion and wherein said cutout portion is positioned between said second end of said first wall and said second end of said second wall within said handle.
 13. The carrier of claim 10, wherein said first wall comprises a tab positioned about said second end and wherein said tab is positioned between said second end of said first wall and said second end of said second wall within said handle.
 14. The carrier of claim 9, wherein said first wall and said second wall both comprise a plurality of article-engaging apertures therein, each of said plurality of article-engaging apertures sized to accommodate a portion of one of the articles.
 15. The carrier of claim 9, wherein said base panel comprises a plurality of article retainers positioned therein, each of said plurality of article retainers sized to accommodate a portion of one of the articles.
 16. The carrier of claim 9, wherein said base panel comprises a center fold line such that base panel, said first wall, and said second wall may be folded and aligned with each other.
 17. The carrier of claim 16, wherein said base panel comprises a plurality of additional fold lines.
 18. The carrier of claim 10, wherein said first wall and said second wall comprise a fold line about said handle and wherein said first wall and said second wall comprise a plurality of tabs extending from said handle, said plurality of tabs being pivotable about said fold line.
 19. The carrier of claim 18, wherein said first wall and said second wall each comprise a plurality of article-engaging apertures positioned about said plurality of tabs.
 20. The carrier of claim 19, wherein each said plurality of article-engaging apertures comprises an angled bottom edge.
 21. The carrier of claim 9, wherein the articles comprises a number of bottles.
 22. A carrier for accommodating at least one article, comprising: a front wall including a first end defined by a fold line; a rear wall including a first end defined by a fold line; said first end of said front wall and said first end of said rear wall being fixedly attached together to bring said fold lines into substantial alignment with each other so that a handle is formed from said first ends and a tubular structure depending from said handle is formed from remainder of the front and rear walls; said handle comprising at least one engaging tab extending away from said handle beyond the fold lines, said handle being pivotable about said fold lines between an upright position and a tilted position such that when said handle is in said upright position, said at least one tab extends into said tubular structure to engage an article in the tubular structure, and when said handle is in said tilted position, said at least one tab lies in a position wherein said at least one tab allows an article to move into or out of said tubular structure.
 23. A method for inserting one or more articles into a carrier including a tubular structure, a handle pivotally connected to the tubular structure and having one or more engaging tabs which extend into the tubular structure when the handle in an upright position, the method comprising: pivoting the handle from the upright position to a tilted position such that the one or more engaging tabs are pivoted toward the outside of the tubular structure in response to the pivotal movement of the handle; inserting one or more articles into the tubular structure; and pivoting the handle to the upright position such that the one or more engaging tabs are brought into engagement with the one or more articles. 